Fuse cutout



Feb. 2, 1954 J. J. COOPER ETAL FUSE CUTOUT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1951 A, \W KWHI I IHHH IH I b- 1954 J J. COOPER ET AL 2,668,209

FUSE CUTOUT Filed-June 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. F IG 5 Feb. 2, 1954 J. J. COOPER ETAL 2,668,209

FUSE CUTOUT Filed June .4, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet a Patented Feb. 2, 1954 Louis, Mo., as'signors, by mesne assignmentsJo A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, M0.,' a corporatio'n of Missouri Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,814 19 Claims. (01. 200-114) This invention relates to fuse cutouts, and more particularly to a use cutout adapted selectively to afford any one of a number of different types of outage indication upon rupture of the fuse of the cutout.

In general, the principal object of the invention is the provision of a fuse cutout particularly for outdoor use in power distribution systems which is adapted to indicate outage, i. e., rupture of the fuse of the cutout, in a number of different ways; and which is adapted readily to be converted from indicating outage any one way to indicating outage in another way. The necessity for indicating outage in different ways arises sometimes from differences in conditions underwhic'h the cutout is examined for outage in the field and sometimes from arbitrary prefe en'ces. I v H H For example, when fog conditions are prevalent, it is desirable to have a more readily visible indication than would" be required in clear weather. In the case of enclosed fuse cutouts, a readily visible indication is; afforded by socalled drop-out operation, il e., complete opening of the door." In winter, it may b e desirable to maintain the door closed thereby protecting the apparatus from the weather, and to rely upon the so-called dropfdown type of visual indica tion for outage detection. Inthis case the fuse holder is simply extended." Under certain an 1 curnstances a partial drop out operation combined with drop-down operation may be desirable. This will be referred to herein as pop-put operation. Also, the preference as to; the type outage indication desired may change from time to time. This invention proyides a; fuse cutout which may be readily converted say in the factory to any one of three different types of outage indication with varying degrees of protection afforded against the elements after an outage has occurred.

Briefly, a fuse cutout ofthis invention comprises a support preferablyin the form of a housing having therein upper and lower line terminal elements for cooperation with a fuse holder. The fuse holder includes a door for the housing pivoted on a hinge member, which in turn is removably pivoted on thehohsihgl Associated with the dob'r is a fu'se'tube of the expulsion type having a fixed upper terminal-eng'aging contact and a relatively movable lower terminal-engaging contact. The upper; terminal element carries fuse clips'having' a laftching cooperation with the' uppercontact of the; fuse holder. A" fuse link caught a'tthe upper contact member extends through the fuse tube and is secured to the lower contact member of the fuse holder. The fuse link thereby serves to maintain the lower contact member against bias in a retracted position within the housing. In its retracted position, the lower contact member makes contact with the lower terminal element of the fuse support and additionally functions as a latch to prevent movement of the hinge member relative to the fuse holder. 7

This arrangement provides for three operative movements of the apparatus. First, when the fuse ruptures, the lower contact member drops under bias to an extended position so that it projects from the bottom of the housing, thereby providing a first visual indication of the outage. Also, the electrical connection between the lower contact member and the lower terminal element is broken, and the hinge member is released for rotation relative to 'the fuse holder. Second, the fuse holder may swing'pa-rtially outward at its lower end upon the support of the pivoted hinge member while the fuse holder is restrained at its upper end by the latching cooperation between the upper contact member and the upper terminal element. In effect, the door partially pops out of the housing, thereby furnishing a second visual indication of the outage and additionally some weather protection. Third, thefuse holder may drop relative to the fuse support to release the upper contact member from the latching cooperation of the upper terminal element and permit the door to swing open completely upon the lower pivot of the hinge'member. In effect, the door drops out, thereby furnishing a third visual indication of an outage and breaking the connection between the upper contact member and; the upper terminal element. I I

A feature of this invention is the provision of a stop member for limiting rotation of the hinge member relative to the fuse holder which is selectively positionable.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a hinge member cooperable with a linemans hot stick to permit removal of the fuse holder from the fuse support when the fuse holder is in the drop-out position, while also preventing inadvertent detachment of the fuse holder. I

An additional feature ofthis'invention is the provision of a plurality of biasing means for drop-down, pop-out and-drop-out operation; and means whereby alloperations are made independent of the flexibility of the fuse link; Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our fuse cutout in its condition immediately prior to rupture of the fuse, the housing being shown in section, parts of the fuse holder being broken away, the position of parts after drop-down operation being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an idealized front elevation of the housing and fuse holder after drop-out operation, as viewed from lines 2--2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the position of parts after pop-out operations;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the position of parts after drop-out operation, a, position of certain parts during removal of the fuse holder being indicated by dotted lines; and,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a fuse cutout of this invention as mounted on a power-line pole. The cutout is of the en closed type having a fuse support comprising a housing of porcelain, and upper and lower interior line terminal elements 3 and 5, respectively, carried by the housing. A fuse holder is removably supported upon the housing or fuse support. This fuse holder comprises a door I for the housing, a fuse tube 9 fixed to the door, and upper and lower terminal-engaging contact members II and I3, respectively. The door '1 is supported upon the housing by a movable hinge or double-pivot member l5, pivotal at I? to the door and removably hinged on pivots l9 to hinge sockets 20.

A hanger 2| is affixed, as by cement 23, to the housing for mounting it, as upon the crossbar of a line pole, at an angle such that the top of the housing and center of gravity of the fuse holder are overcentered with respect to the open bottom of the housing and pivot 89, respectively. The door 7 is formed at its top with an eye 21 so that it may be opened and closed by means of the usual linemans hot stick. On the inside, the door I is formed with upper and lower apertured projections 29 and 3| respectively. These receive the fuse tube 9. The fuse tube 9 is fixed within the apertured projections by means of a retaining pin 33 extending through the lower projection 3| and cooperating with a suitable recess in the fuse tube. The fuse tube 9, which is formed of insulating material such as wrapped plastic and fiber, is closed at its top by an assembly of conductive parts forming the upper contact member Ii. Threaded upon the tube at its top is a collar 35, which bears against a lock washer 31. The collar is apertured at 39 to receive a fuse link 4|. The fuse link 4| has a head 43 which seats against the top of the collar 35. Threaded over the collar and against the head 43 of the fuse link is a thumb cap 45.

When the door 7 is closed, the cap 45 is surrounded on opposite sides by conductive spring contact clips 41. These clips 41 have inwardly divergent portions 49 (Figs. 2 and 3) adapted releasably to retain the door closed and to exert a rearward bias upon the fuse holder. The top of the cap is engaged by a conductive spring contact wiper 5| having a loop portion 53, a flat portion 55 normally seating against the top of the contact of the cap 45 and a lip portion 51 normally overhanging the top of the cap 45 for latching purposes. A resilient bracing clip 58 engages the top of the wiper 5|.

The clips 47, 5| and 58 are fixed upon an upper electrically conductive terminal block 59, which is cemented to the housing. The terminal block 59 is provided with line-connection means having a line-receiving groove 5|, opposite from which is a resilient antiscratch bar 53. The bar 53 is self biased away from the groove 6| to facilitate entry of a conductor (not shown), and is moved toward the groove 6| by a screw 65 to seat a conductor firmly in the groove. The housing i has side apertures 51 which permit entry of a line conductor. The terminal block is more particularly described and claimed in the copending application of James J. Cooper entitled Terminal Block, Serial No. 223,731, filed April 30-, 1951.

It will be apparent that an electrical connection is provided from the terminal block 59 through the spring clips 41 and 5| and through the conductive cap 45 to the head of the fuse link. The fuse link 4| extends through and out of the open bottom end ll of the fuse tube 9, and has a fusible element 69 located within the tube 9. Telescoped over the lower end of the fuse tube 9 is a copper sleeve or indicator tube 73, which carries an upper collar 15 and a lower collar-like member ll. A guide plate 19, secured between the upper and lower collars l5 and 11, slides within a guide recess 8| formed in the back of the door. A transverse stop plate 83 is secured over the guide recess 8| to prevent the indicator tube 13 from dropping off the fuse holder. The indicator tube 13 is biased from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position (dotted lines of Fig. 1). A coil spring 85 is telescoped over the fuse tube 9 so as to abut against the lower door projection 3|, an isolating member of insulating material 87 resting on top of the upper collar 15.

The lower collar member 11 is provided with 2. depending saddle 88 and an upwardly reaching arm 89, these relative locations applying when the fuse holder is in its normal closed position (Fig. 1). Fixed on the arm 89 is a spring brush 9|, which extends upward for engagement with the lower terminal element 5. The lower terminal element includes a terminal block 92 similar to the upper terminal block 59, and carries a spring brush 94. The contact surface of brush 9| faces upward and away from the fuse holder, whereas the contact surface of brush 94 faces in the opposite direction. When the lower contact member is in its retracted position, a force is developed between the spring brushes which tends to drive the lower contact member downward and the fuse holder outward.

The lower contact member is held in its retracted position by attachment of the fuse link 4| to a binding post 93 extending from the arm 89 through the spring brush 9|. A thumb screw 95 is threaded over the binding post and carries a washer 98.

The movable member I upon which the fuse holder is pivotally supported is a member formed with a central body 91 normally located behind the fuse tube 9 and in front of the arm 89. Keyholes 99, adapted for cooperation with a hot stick, are located on opposite sides of the body 91. Extending from the body on opposite sides of the fuse tube 9 are legs IOI carrying trunnions I03. The trunnions are removably received within upwardly opening hook members I05 cemented in the sides of the housing at the open bottom 25. Projecting from the body 91 of the movable double-pivot member I5 in an opposite direction from legs IOI are arms I01, which are pivoted upon a pin I09 set in lobes III formed on the door. When the door is closed, the member I5 assumes a generally upright position closely around the indicator tube 13.

With the lower contact member I3 in its retracted position, a step I I3 formed thereon cooperates with a shoulder step I I5 on the member I5 to retain it in its stated upright position. Steps H3 and H5 in effect function as a latch for preventing the member I5 from rotating relative to the fuse holder on the pivot I1, while permitting rotation on the pivot at I9. This latch is released upon movement of the lower contact member from its retracted position.

The rotational movement of the member I5 relative to the door 1 is also controlled by an indicator selector member in the form of a plate II1 carried on one of the arms I01 of the member I5. This plate is pivoted on the hinge pin I09 and has an arcuate opening II9 lying on a circle concentric with the hinge pin and may be provided with three enlargements designated DO, PO and DD, reading in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The plate H1 is adjustably fixed with respect to the member I5 by means of a screw I2I threaded into the arm I01. A shoulder I23 on the screw I2I is adapted to fit within a selected one of the three enlargements DO, PO and DD, thereby locking'the plate againstrotation on the hinge pin I00. In Fig. 1, the screw is shown to be fitted within the enlargement DD, but it will be understood that when the screw is partially unscrewed so as to withdraw its shoulder I23 from the recess DD, the plate may be rotated to either of the other two positions and fixed in position by again tightening the screw.

The particular position of the selector plate on the member I 5 is important in this respect. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the plate has an edge I25 facing the back of the door 1. The amount of rotation of the member I5 relative to the door is therefore determined by the engagement of the edge I25 of the selectively positionable plate with the back of the door. With the indicator selector plate in the DD position (screw I2I located in the enlargement DD), the member I5 cannot rotate relative to the door 1 even though the latch at H3 and H5 is released. With the indicator selector plate in the PO position, limited free anticlockwise rotation of the member I5 relative to the door may occur. With the indicator selector plate in the DO position, relatively greater free clockwise rotational movement of the member I5 relative to the door is ossible.

When the apparatusis'set forPO or DO operation, the member I5 swings outward from the upright position shown in Fig. l and the lower part of the door is carried outward as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. The top portion of the 6 door is beveled at its edge as indicated at I21 to permit this movement. An edge I29 of the door 1 otherwise is flat and abuts against a recessed door seat I3I in the front of the housing I.

Operation is as follows:

Assume first the door 1 is closed and the indicator selector stop I I1 is set for drop-down (DD) operation. The lower contact member I3 is held in its retracted position by the fuse link II tensioned between the upper contact member I I and the lower contact member I3. The latchat II3 and II5 prevents rotation of the member I5 relative to the door 1. The selector plate II1'a1so prevents such rotation. The door is biased in an outward and downward direction by the engagement of the brush 9| with the brush 94 on the lower terminal element 5. There is also a similarly directed gravity bias resulting from the location of the door on the inclined fuse housing I. Also, an additional downward component of bias is imparted to the door by the wiper clip 5! and associated spring brace 55 bearing against the top of the upper contact member II.

The fuse holder is retained in position by means of the trunnions I53 seated in the hook members I05, and by the latching engagement of spring clips 41 and El with the cap 5 at the top of the fuse tube 9. The clips merely prevent outward movement of the top of the fuse holder. This latching cooperation at the top of the fuse holder is sumcient to hold against the outward thrust of the spring brushes SI and 95. The brushes act intermediately of the holding effect of the contact member within the clips ti" and 5| and the reaction of the trunnions Hit in the hook members I05.

It will be noted that tension is maintained on the fuse link ti by the gravity bias of the lower contact member I3, by the coil spring reacting between the door projection BI and the top of the indicator tube 13, and by the downward component of force developed between the brushes III and 94.

When the fuse blows upon passage of an excessive current, there may or may not be developed an expulsive discharge tending to drive the lower fragment of the fuse link through the open bottom end of the tube. In any event, the reactive force from spring members 9|, 94 and spring 55, aided by gravity, drives down the'lower contact member I3. Since the lower contact member I3 and the attached segment of the fuse link move as a unit, this segment, even though relatively stiff, is positively withdrawn, no flexing of the link being required. Of course if the link is flexible enough or the expulsive force (if it occurs) is sufficient, it may reach the position shown by dotted lines at the bottom of Fig. 1. In either event operation is positive. This is an important feature. For example, fuse links which have been in place for a considerable length of time tend to crystallize where stressed as at the saddle Ill, and thereby ordinarily hinder the cutout operation. The operation of the cutout of this invention merely requires a parting of the fuse, which necessarily must occur upon melting.

Upon the parting of the fuse, as mentioned before, the lower contact member I3 is driven from its retracted position to an extended position, the contact member being guided downward by the guide plate 19 sliding within the guide recess 8| on the door and by the telescoping cooperation of the indicator tube 13 with the fuse tube 9. The extended position of the lower contact is determined by the engagement of the upper collar 15 on the indicator tube with-the stop plate 83. When the lower contact member l3 reaches its lower extended position, the associated brush 9| is separated from the brush 94 on the lower terminal element so that the lower contact member and fuse fragment are electrically dead. Also, the lower contact member projects from the bottom of the housing, thereby providing visual indication of the outage. This constitutes drop-down operation (dotted lines; Fig. 1). Although movement of the lower contact member results in a release of the latch at H3 and H5, rotation of the member l5 relative to the door i is prevented by the indicator selector plate H'I. Consequently, the door 1 remains in its closed position, being held there by the latching cooperation of the upper contact II with the upper terminal element 3. A replacement of the blown fuse link is achieved by opening the door by means of the eye 21 and lifting the door from the housing I as will be explained.

Assume next that the door is closed with an unblown fuse link mounted therein and that the indicator selector plate H1 is set for pop-out (PO) operation. The sequence of movements is similar to that described heertofore with the exception below noted. When the lower contact member begins its downward movement from its retracted position upon blowing of the fuse, the latch at H3 and H5 is released before the spring brush 9| completely leaves the spring brush 94. Therefore, an outward reaction is imparted to the lower portion of the fuse holder by the engagement of spring brushes 9| and 94. This force, also aided by the weight of the door, drives the fuse holder and door 1 outward so that the door in effect rotates upon the hinges at pivots l1 and I9. Outward movement of the top of the door is restrained by the latching cooperation of the spring clips 41 and 5| with the upper contact member ll, although swinging pop-out movement of the lower part of the door is permitted by the beveled portion 121 at the top of the door. Therefore, the lower portion of the door partially pops out to a limited extent of the housing. The amount of outward movement is limited by the engagement of edge I25 of the indicator selector plate Ill with the back of the door I, as indicated in Fig. 3. This outward movement of the lower portion of the door is readily visible, yet also to a large extent the inside of the cutout is protected from weather such as sleet and icing conditions. Therefore, a second visual indication of the outage is given, it being understood that the lower contact member has also dropped so as to project below the bottom of the housing. This is known herein as pop-out operation.

Assume next that the cutout is set for the drop-out (DO) operation. The movement of parts is the same as described above, with the exception that the selector plate l H, having been readjusted with the screw l2l at the DO position, allows further outward movement of the door at its lower portion. As the member l5 swings outward upon the pivot at l9, the door 1 also drops. When the door drops, the cap 45 at-the upper contact member II is withdrawn downward from the latching cooperation of the spring clips 41 and 5|, and when this latch is released the upper part of the door falls open under gravity bias to the position indicated at Fig. 4. The final position of the door is determined by the engagement of its lower edge with the lower side edges of the housing I. The housing is otherwise recessed at its lower portion to permit the lower contact member to swing upward within the housing. This is known as drop-out operation.

It will be observed that when the door is in the open position hanging downward from the pivot at I9, the keyholes 99 formed on the central portion of the hinged member :5 are upright; that is, the small end of each keyhole 99 is above the large end. Consequently, a linemans hot stick may be applied to lift the door assembly from the housing, the split trunnions Hi3 then being in position to facilitate this removal of the fuse holder assembly from the fuse support.

Referring to Fig. l, the split trunnions H33 have their flat surfaces I33 positioned such that when the door is hanging in its open position it may not be removed by upward movement on the door or upper contact as might occur if a lineman were accidentally to brush against the door in climbing the line pole. A slight upward swinging movement of the member [5 must first occur to clear the trunnions for lifting movement from the hooks Hi5. This slight upward swinging movement is automatically obtained by application of a hot stick to one of the keyholes 99. The complete fuse holder may then be removed from the fuse support and the blown fuse link may be readily replaced.

A new fuse link is inserted by removing the cap 45, threading the fuse link through the fuse tube 9 and securing the outer end of the fuse link at the binding post 93 with the lower contact member held in its retracted position. The fuse holder is then replaced upon the housing by use of keyholes 99 and the door closed by use of eyelet 21. It will be noted that door i may be closed without replacing the fuse link 4i and maintained closed by adjusting the selector plate ill to the DD position. The lower contact member 63 will project from the housing to furnish indication that the cutout is not fused while the conductive parts are protected from weather.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A fuse cutout comprising a box containing upper and lower terminals and having front and bottom openings, pivot-receiving hinge socket means adjacent the bottom opening. a fuse holder assembly constituted by a door adapted to close said front opening and a fuse tube carried by the door, said tube having a lower opening and an upper terminal-engaging contact, a lower terminal-engaging contact movable from a retracted position with respect to the lower end of the tube to an extended position, said lower terminal being biased toward said extended position, said contacts being adapted to fasten a fuse link to retract the lower contact upward, means movably carried on the door and having movable pivot means cooperating with said hinge socket means, a latch element between said lower contact and said movable means adapted to maintain the latter immovable when the lower contact is retracted by an unbroken fuse link but to release said movable means when the fuse link breaks thereby permitting the lower contact to assume its extended position, stop means mounted for operation between said movable means and fuse holder assembly and having a first position in which the movable means remains immovable with respect to the fuse holder assembly after release by the latch element and having another position wherein the movable means has free movement relative to the door and wherein the upper contact completely disengaged from the upper terminal to allow swinging of the entire door and tube assembly to a depending position completely opening the box, and means for releasing and holding said stop means at either of said two positions.

2. A fuse cutout comprising a box containing upper and lower terminals and having front and bottom openings, pivot-receiving hinge socket means adjacent the bottom opening, a fuse assembly constituted by a door adapted to close said front opening and a fuse tube carried by the door, said tube having a lower opening and an upper terminal-engaging contact, a lower ter-- minal-engaging contact movable from a retracted position with respect to the lower end of the tube to an extended position, said lower terminal be ing biased toward said extended position, said contacts being adapted to fasten a fuse link to retract the lower contact upward, means movably carried on the door and having movable pivot means cooperating with said hinge socket m ans, a latch element between said lower contact and said movable means adapted to maintain the latter immovable when the lower contact is retracted by an unbroken fuse link but to release said movable means when the fuse link breaks thereby permitting the lower contact to assume its extended position, stop means mounted for operation between said movable means and fuse holder assembly and having a first position in which the movable means remains immovable with respect to the fuse holder assembly after release by the latch element, and having a second position wherein the movable means has limited movement relative to the door whereby the latter may move partially from the front opening of the box, and means for releasing and holding said stop means at either of said two positions.

3. A fuse cutout comprising a box containing upper and lower terminals and having front and bottom openings, pivot-receiving hinge socket means adjacent the bottom opening, a fuse holder assembly constituted by a door adapted to close said front opening and a fuse tube carried by the door, said tube having a lower opening and an upper terminal-engaging contact, a lower terminal-engaging contact movable from a retracted position with respect to the lower end of the tube to an extended position, said lower terminal being biased toward said extended position, said contacts being adapted to fasten a fuse link to retract the lower contact upward, means movably carried on the door and having movable pivot means cooperating with said hinge socket means, a latch element between said lower contact and said movable means adapted to maintain the latter immovable when the lower contact is re tracted by an unbroken fuse link but to release said movable means'when the fuse link breaks thereby permitting the lower contact to assume its extended position, stop means mounted for operation between said movable means and fuse holder assembly, said stop means having a first position in which the movable means remains immovable after release by the latch element, said stop means also having a second position wherein the movable means has limited movement relative to the door whereby the latter may move partially from the front opening of the box, and said stop means having a third position permitting additional movement of the movable means to allow swinging of the entire door and tube assembly to a depending position completely opening the box, and means for releasing and holding said stop means at any of said three positions.

4. A fuse cutout comprising a box containing and lower terminals and having front and bottom openin s, pivot-receiving hinge socket means adjacent the bottom opening, a fuse holder assembly constituted by a door adapted to close said front opening and a fuse tube carried by the door, said tube having a lower opening and an upper terminal-engaging contact, a lower terminal-engaging contact slidable from a retracted position around the lower end of the tube to a downward extended position, said lower terminal being biased toward said extended position, said contacts being adapted to have a fuse link fastened thereto of a length to retract the lower contact upward wherein it will engage the lower terminal when the upper contact engages said upper terminal, means movably carried on the door and having movable pivot means removably cooperating with said hinge socket means in a rotary manner, a latch element between said lower contact and said movable means adapted to maintain the latter immovable when the lower contact is retracted by an unbroken fuse link but to release said movable means when the fuse link breaks thereby permitting the lower contact to assume its extended position disengaging the lower contact from the lower terminal, stop means mounted for operation between said movable means and fuse holder assembly, said stop means having a first position in which the movable means remains immovable after release by the latch element, said stop means also having a second position wherein the movable means has limited movement relative to the door whereby the latter may move partially from the front opening of the box without com.- pletely disengaging the upper contact from the upper terminal, and said stop means having a third position permitting additional movement of the movable means wherein the upper contact is completely disengaged from the upper terminal to allow swnging of the entire door and tube assembly to a depending position complete- 1y opening the box, and means for releasing and holding said stop means at any of said three positions.

5. A fuse cutout comprising a support having upper and lower line terminals, a double-pivot member pivoted to the support, a fuse holder pivoted to said double-pivot member, an upper contact member on the fuse holder, a lower sliding contact member slidably mounted upon the fuse holder for longitudinal movement thereof from a retracted position to an extended position, said lower contact member engaging the lower terminal element and latching the doublepivot member when the lower contact member is in its retracted position, and means for holding a fuse link between the upper and lower contact members to retain the lower contact member in its retracted and latching position.

6. A fuse cutout as set forth in claim 5 further including a stop plate fixed on the double-pivot member and adapted to engage the fuse holder to limit movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder, and means for chang- 1! ing the position of the stop plate on the doublepivot member to permit varying degrees of movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder.

'7. A fuse cutout comprising a support having upper and lower line terminals, a pivot member pivoted to the fuse support for outward swinging movement from an upright position, a fuse holder pivoted to said pivot member, said fuse holder carrying a fixed upper contact member having a latching cooperation with the upper line terminals, a lower contact member mounted on the fuse holder for generally vertical sliding movement to an extended position from a retracted position in which it has latching cooperation with the pivot member, the fuse holder being latched against rotation on the pivot member when the lower contact member is in its retracted position, means for tensioning a fuse link between the upper and lower contact members to retain the lower contact member in its retracted position, a stop member operatively located between the pivot member and the fuse holder, and means for varying the location of said stop member.

8. An enclosed fuse cutout comprising a housing in which are mounted upper and lower terminal elements, a pivot member pivoted to the housing for outward swinging movement from a retracted position, a door pivotally supported upon said pivot member, a fuse tube fixed to said door, said fuse tube carrying a fixed upper contact member having a latching cooperation with the upper terminal element when the door is closed with the pivot member in its retracted position, a lower contact member cooperable with the lower terminal element when the door is closed, means for holding a fuse link between said upper and lower contact members, the pivot member being held against rotation relative to the door when the fuse link is held, and a stop member movably mounted on said pivot member and cooperating with the door to limit the rotation of the pivot member relative to the door, said stop member being selectively adjustable completely to prevent rotation of the pivot member relative to the door or to permit limited rotation of the pivot member or to permit free rotation of the pivot member.

9. In an enclosed fuse cutout having an openbottomed housing in which are upper and lower line terminal elements and a pivoted fuse tube, a lower terminal-engaging contact member mounted. upon the fuse tube for longitudinal movement thereof from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position through the open bottom of the housing, said lower contact member being provided with a depending saddle and a binding post located on the lower contact member above said saddle, and a spring brush fixed to the lower contact member to extend upward with a contact surface cooperable with the lower terminal element, the contact surface of the spring brush facing upward and laterally away from the lower contact member and fuse tube, the pivotal support of the fuse tube being below said contact surface when the lower contact member is in its retracted position.

10. A fuse cutout comprising a fuse tube assembly having a lower opening and an upper terminal-engaging contact, a lower terminalengaging contact slidable on the fuse tube assembly and movable from a retracted position with respect to the lower end of the tube assembly to a downwardly extended position, a support having upper and lower terminals and lower hinge socket means, said upper terminal being adapted to receive and hold the upper contact when the latter is elevated but to effect release thereof upon its sufficient downward movement, means pivoted with respect to the fuse tube assembly and having a pivotal engagement with said hinge socket means, a latch operative between the lower contact when retracted and the pivot means to hold the latter rigid with respect to the fuse tube assembly, thereby to position said upper contact to be held by said upper terminal, said lower contact when retracted engaging the lower terminal, and a fuse link adapted to connect the two contacts to hold the lower contact in its latching position with respect to the pivot means.

11. Apparatus made according to claim 10, including a stop element connected between the pivot means and the fuse tube assembly and arranged in one position to prevent motion of the pivot means with respect to the fuse tube assem bly so as to prevent lowering of the upper contact from the upper terminal when the latch is released, said stop element in a second position permitting partial movement of the pivot means when the latch is released to permit limited rotary movement in one direction of the fuse tube assembly without release of the upper contact from the upper terminal, said stop element in a third position permitting greater movement of the pivot means when the latch is released to permit sufficient lowering of the upper contact to move from the upper terminal, whereby the tube assembly may rotate in an opposite direction and substantially completely away from the support, and means for changing the positions of said stop element.

12. A fuse cutout comprising a fuse holder assembly constituted by a support having upper and lower terminals and a fuse tube on a tube carrier, an upper terminal-engaging contact carried by the fuse tube, a lower terminal-engaging contact longitudinally movable with respect to the fuse holder, a double-pivot member pivoted with respect to the support and with respect to the fuse holder, the lower contact being movable independently of the double-pivot member, means for securing a fuse link between the upper and lower contacts, means for restraining the lower contact and the double-pivot member against movement relative to the fuse holder by the fuse link when unbroken, and a multi-position stop member operatively mounted between the double-pivot member and the fuse holder, means for changing the position of said stop member from one position in which it completely prevents movement of the doublepivot member relative to the fuse holder, to another position in which it permits movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder.

13. A fuse cutout comprising a fuse holder assembly constituted by a support having upper and lower terminals and a fuse tube on a tube carrier, an upper terminal-engaging contact carried by the fuse tube, a lower terminal-engaging contact longitudinally movable with respect to the fuse holder, a double-pivot member pivoted with respect to the support and with respect to the fuse holder, the lower contact being movable independently of the double-pivot member, means for securing a fuse link between the upper and lower contacts, means for restraining the lower contact and the double-pivot member against movement relative to the fuse holder by the fuse link when unbroken, a threeposition stop member operatively mounted between the double-pivot member and the fuse holder, and means for changing the position of said stop member from a first position in which it completely prevents movement of the doublepivot member relative to the fuse holder, to a second position in which it permits limited movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder, or to a third position in which it permits comparatively free movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder, the lower contact member being movable relatively to the fuse holder in any of the three positions of the double-pivot member.

14. A fuse cutout comprising a support having upper and lower line terminals, a double-pivot member pivoted to th support at one of its pivots, a fuse holder pivoted to said double-pivot member at its other pivot, an upper contact member on the fuse holder, a lower sliding contact member slidably mounted upon the fuse holder for longitudinal movement thereof from a retracted position to an extended position, said lower contact member engaging the lower terminal element and latching the double-pivot member when the lower contact member is in its retracted position, means for holding a fuse link between the upper and lower contact members to retain the lower contact member in its retracted and latching position, and a spring reacting between said sliding contact member and said fuse holder biasing the contact member toward application of tension to said fuse link when held between the upper and lower contact members.

15. A fuse cutout made according to claim 14, further including a stop plate fixed in an operative position between the double-pivot member and the fuse holder to form an engagement between them to limit movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder, and means for changing the position of the stop plate to permit varying degrees of movement of the double-pivot member relative to the fuse holder.

16. In an enclosed fuse cutout having an openbottomed housing carrying upper and lower terminals and a pivoted fuse tube, a lower terminalengaging contact member mounted upon the fuse tub for longitudinal movement thereof from a retracted position within the housing to an extended position through the open bottom of the housing, means for securing a fuse link to the lower contact member to retain it in its retracted position, a spring brush extending upward from the lower contact member and having a contact surface cooperable With the lower terminal, the contact surface of the spring brush facing upward and away from the fuse tube, the pivotal support of the fuse tube being below said contact surface when the lower contact member is in its retracted position, an upper contact member carried by the fuse tube and having a latching cooperation with the upper terminal, and a metallic indicator tube telescoped over the lower end of the fuse tube.

17. In an enclosed fuse cutout having an openbottomed housing carrying upper and lower terminals and a pivoted fuse tube, a lower terminal-engaging contact member mounted upon the fuse tube for longitudinal movement thereof from a retracted position Within the housing to an extended position through the open bottom of the housing, means for securing a fuse link to the lower contact member to retain it in its retracted position, a spring brush extending upward from the lower contact member and having a contact surface cooperabl with the lower terminal, the contact surface of the spring brush facing upward and away from the fuse tube, the pivotal support of the fuse tube being below said contact surface when the lower contact member is in its retracted position, an upper contact member carried by the fuse tube and having a latching cooperation with the upper terminal, a collar-like metallic member forming a part of said lower contact member, said collar member having an upwardly reaching arm and a depending saddle, said spring brush being fixed to said arm, and a binding post carried on said arm for securing one end of a fuse link thereto.

18. A fuse cutout as set forth in claim 17 and further including a pivot member having a body portion normally located between the fuse tube and the arm of the lower contact member, said pivot member having legs pivoted to the housing and arms pivotally carrying the fuse tube.

19. A fuse cutout as set forth in claim 18, wherein a door member for the housing is mounted in connection with the fuse tube, the arms of the pivot member being pivoted to the door member and one of the arms carrying an adjustably positionable stop plate cooperable with the door member upon movement of the pivot member relative to the door member.

JAMES J. COOPER. OLIVER A. VORDTRIEDE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,073,186 Steinmayer et a1. Mar. 9, 1937 2,301,442 Nelson Nov. 10, 1942 2,321,827 Kyle June 15, 1943 2,458,743 Schultz Jan. 11, 1949 2,466,486 Schultz Apr. 5, 1949 

